Over 400 new BEST buses to hit Mumbai roads after polls

Following Lok Sabha polls, citizens can expect 426 new BEST buses, 50 of which will be air-conditioned.

The new buses were reportedly expected to arrive by March-April, but the process has been delayed due to elections. Sources in the transport undertaking said the AC buses will be deployed on routes mainly in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The services will connect commercial hub to the nearest stations and other suburban areas, source said. The objective is to encourage offic-goers to use AC buses instead of their own cars. Sources added that soon, a few AC buses may also be deployed at the new international airport.

Officials said the new buses will be used to launch more routes, improve existing frequency and to replace some of the old buses. "We plan to conduct surveys of the existing routes and remove those that are loss-making. For example, if the load factor on one bus route is 70% while it is 30% on another route in the same direction, we will scrap the latter and try to increase frequency of the first bus route," an official said.

Commuter rights activist A V Shenoy said there was a need to introduce more buses on the Eastern Freeway. "I have suggested a bus from Opera House to the Eastern Freeway via Null Bazar and Wadi Bunder. There is a huge demand from commuters who want to travel from Opera House to the eastern suburbs," he stated